USA > Ohio > Memoirs of the lower Ohio valley, personal and genealogical : with portraits, Volume I > Part 33
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Hospital for the Relief of Ruptured and Crippled Children, where he served for one year, gathering a fund of useful knowledge from his experience there. In 1888 he took a post-graduate course in the New York Polyclinic school. Again in 1895 he took post-graduate courses in New York and Vienna and in the latter place took special courses in surgery and gynecology. This course has marked him as one of the most progressive physicians of the day, and has been an impor- tant factor in building up his magnificent practice. Doctor Varner located at Evansville in 1888, where he began the practice of his pro- fession, establishing his office on the West Side, in which locality he has ever since remained, though his patients are to be found in all parts of the city. In the fifteen years that have elapsed since that time he has steadily grown in his profession until he is regarded as one of the most eminent physicians of Evansville, if not of Southern Indiana. Certain it is he is one of the busiest, his professional skill and services being called into demand almost night and day. In addi- tion to his private practice he is surgeon to St. Mary's hospital ; visit- ing physician and surgeon to the Vanderburg county orphan home ; medical examiner for the Royal Arcanum, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, Knights of Honor, Woodmen of the World, Degree of Honor, and several of the old line life insurance companies. Doctor Varner is a member of the American and Indiana State Medi- cal associations, the medical society of Vanderburg county, and has one of the most extensive libraries both literary and medical in Evans- ville. Outside of his profession, Doctor Varner is one of the progress- ive men of Evansville. He has taken an active part in municipal and county affairs and is one of the most influential citizens of the West Side. When the West Side bank was organized he was one of its most enthusiastic advocates, and has been vice president of the institution ever since it opened its doors for the transaction of busi- ness. As he is just in the prime of life, with studious habits and a laudable desire to excel in his profession, it is almost certain that his professional reputation will be greater in the years to come. The winning of honors, however, has never turned his head nor made him vain of his powers. His genial disposition and his natural sym- pathetic nature have been potent elements in building up his present lucrative business, and to his friends and patients he is always the same. Consequently his patrons have learned to love and trust him, and his brother practitioners have the highest regard, both for his personality and professional standing.
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CHARLES J. THUMAN, superintend- ent of the city water works, Evansville, Ind., was born in that city in 1861. He received his education in the public schools, and has passed his whole life in his native city. When he was sixteen years of age he went into the Mechanics' foundry, in which his father was one of the partners, and there learned the art of fashioning iron. From the foundry he went into the machine shop and learned the trade of machinist, becoming a skillful mechanic. He next went into the Ber- nardin bottle cap works and took charge of the mechanical depart- ment, remaining with the concern for eleven years. When Mayor Covert came into office he appointed Mr. Thuman to the position of water works superintendent, which he has filled with signal ability ever since. The water works plant in Evansville is the property of the city. At the time Mr. Thuman took charge of it the equipment was new, and under his control nothing about the place has been allowed to go to decay for want of proper care. The polished portions of the machinery are always kept bright, the floors are always clean, drive- ways bordered with flowers encircle the building, an artificial lake, stocked with goldfish, all contribute to the comfort of the employes and add to the attractiveness of the place. Speaking of this recently Mr. Thuman said: "I enjoy these pretty things. They do not cost much, entail very little labor to maintain ; an order tomorrow to do away with them would meet with a protest, loud and strong, from the men who work with me. These clean rooms, pretty drive- ways, flowers, fish and the like have a most refining influence on the men. They like to work among them, and the people like to come out here to be with us and enjoy our surroundings." The works
stand upon an elevation, from which a fine view of the beautiful Ohio river and the surrounding country can be obtained, and many people visit the place for that purpose. The water works plant of Evans- ville is one of the model institutions of its kind in the country. The men who operate it are paid good wages and take a pride in their work. Under the efficient superintendence of Mr. Thuman it has been brought as near to a state of perfection as possible, and the revenue derived by the city from it annually amounts to about forty thousand dollars. Mr. Thuman has recently built a new home on the
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site of the old John H. Roelker homestead on Mary street. Into this home he has carried his artistic inclinations, and few homes in the city are more cozy or attractive. In politics Mr. Thuman is a Republican but in his official capacity he realizes that he is a servant of the whole population of the city. He is a member of the Knights of Honor, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Buffaloes, in all of which he enjoys a well deserved popularity, because of his genial disposition.
SAMUEL W. LITTLE, treasurer and general manager of the Little Coal & Coke Company, Evansville, Ind., was born in the State of South Carolina, May 17, 1832. When he was about three years of age his parents removed to Indiana and settled on a farm in Monroe county. There the subject of this sketch grew to manhood and engaged in farming until 1853, when he went to Iowa. After three years in that state he returned to Indiana and lo- cated at Evansville, where he was em- ployed in the old Canal Flour Mills until the commencement of the war. He enlisted in the Union army as a sailor in the Mississippi flotilla, but after his return to Evansville began the manufacture of staves and shingles and in operating a cooper shop. He succeeded well in this line of business and in 1871 engaged in the lumber business, with which he was actively identified for a number of years. He was the first to introduce the band-saw for manufacturing lumber, and continued in the lumber business until August 1888, when his mill was destroyed by fire. In the fall of that same year he opened a coal mine on a piece of land in Pike county, Ind., which he had bought for the timber. After running the coal business alone for several years, the S. W. Little Coal Com- pany was organized, of which Mr. Little is principal owner and gen- eral manager. This company has a large acreage of coal lands, a large stock farm and is also engaged in mercantile business. For several years Mr. Little has been in his present position, the com- pany with which he is connected being one of the largest dealers in coal and coke in the city of Evansville. He is one of the most public- spirited men in the city and is always ready to join in any movement for promoting the industrial and commercial interests of Evansville,
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or for improving the social and moral conditions of the people. He was married in 1870 to Miss Mary E. Macer, daughter of Thomas Macer, of Evansville, and they have two sons, Charles S. and Harry W., both of whom are graduates of Wabash college of Crawfords- ville. and Johns Hopkins Medical school at Baltimore. The elder is practicing his profession in Indianapolis and the younger is at present in business with his father. Mr. Little and his family are members of the Presbyterian church.
EDWIN C. HENNING, a brilliant and successful lawyer of Evansville, Ind., is a native Indianian, having been born at Cannelton, Perry county, Jan. 20, 1873. He is a son of Judge William Henning, who in his day was one of the best attorneys in Southern Indiana. Edwin C. Henning received his early education in the public schools of his native city, reading law in the office of his father as oppor- tunity offered. After graduating from the high school he entered the University of Michigan, and was graduated from that institution in both law and literature in June, 1894. He immediately began the practice of his profession in Cannelton, and was soon honored by an election to the office of prosecuting attorney of the second judicial circuit, embracing the counties of Perry, Spencer and Warrick. While serving in this office he made a splendid reputation as a capable and painstaking official, and won marked distinction by his successful prosecutions of offenders against the law. On March. I, 1900, he opened an office at 321 Upper Third street, Evansville, where he is still engaged in practice. Mr. Henning makes a specialty of insur- ance and corporation practice, though he attends to all lines of legal business and has a large and constantly growing clientage. As a criminal lawyer he won a wide reputation by his defense of Wilbur Sherwell, charged with the murder of three women, and by his asso- ciation with the defense in the trial of Caleb Powers, charged with complicity in the killing of Gov. William Goebel, of Kentucky. As a counselor Mr. Henning is considered one of the safest in the city, for the reason that he never hazards an opinion offhand, unless he is absolutely certain he is right. As an advocate few men of his age and experience can claim to be his equals. He is a polished and elo- quent speaker, but at the same time his oratory is forceful and earnest, and rarely fails to impress a jury. Industrious, studious, and filled with a laudable ambition to excel in his profession, the future doubt- less holds greater honors in store for him.
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CAPT. CHARLES H. MYERHOFF, secretary and treasurer of the Evansville Stove Works, Evansville, Ind., was born in the city of Cincinnati, O., March 10, 1842. When he was about six years old his mother died and from that time until he was fourteen he lived with an uncle and a lawyer named Cummings in Jackson county, Ind. In 1856 he went to live with his father, who had married again in the meantime, but two years later the father also died and young Myerhoff found em- ployment with a gardener near Newport, Ky. He worked there but a short time, however, when he went to live with a sister at Grand View, Ind., where he worked on a farm until 1859. In that year he made a trip to Vicksburg, Miss., and being fond of adventure soon afterward started out with three com- panions in a sailboat to see the world and to find employment at such occupations as presented themselves. This experiment soon taught him the truth of the old saying, "A rolling stone gathers no moss," for after several hardships he returned to Evansville with all his worldly possessions tied up in a bandanna. At that time his brother, John H., was foreman for the Armstrong Furniture Company, and here he found employment until the commencement of the great Civil war. Not long after the commencement of hostilities he attended a meeting in the old Crescent City hall, when the first two companies of home guards were organized. He enrolled his name as a member of General Blythe's company, but when the announcement was made that Dr. Noah S. Thompson had been commiss oned to organize a company of volunteers to go to Washington, D. C., in defense of the national capital he arose, withdrew his name from the muster roll of the home guards, and a few minutes later presented himself to Dr. Thompson and requested that his name be enrolled as one of the volunteers. At first his request was denied, because of his youth and delicate physique, but he persisted and upon examination was found so familiar with military tactics that the objections were withdrawn and he was the first man accepted in the first company that left Evansville for the war. While the company was being drilled in Klausman's hall he was detailed to guard the front entrance, and there his general bearing and strict adherence to orders made a deep impres- sion, both on the boys of the city, who were thus denied the privilege
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of seeing the soldiers drill, and his superior officers. The company was mustered into the service as Company E, Fourteenth Indiana infantry, and Captain Myerhoff has the distinction of being the first man to enlist in the first company that left the city. He participated in all the battles in which his regiment was engaged, except what time he was in prison or on duty as a recruiting officer ; was appointed corporal ; promoted to sergeant at Cheat Mountain; to orderly ser- geant, on Oct. 1, 1862; and to first lieutenant on May 7, 1863. About this time he was sent back to Evansville on recruiting service, but was in command of the company in the famous charge of Carroll's brig- ade, on East Cemetery hill at Gettysburg. Subsequently he was in command of Company H at the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsyl- vania, North Anna River and Cold Harbor, where he was severely wounded in a lunette, between the lines. Some idea of the fighting in which his command took part may be obtained when it is known that of the twenty-three men of his company with whom he started on May 4, only two were left on duty when the regiment's term of service expired on June 7, 1864. Captain Myerhoff was at that time in the hospital on account of the wounds received at Cold Harbor. While in the hospital he brought about some much needed reforms and won the thanks of the patients. When he was discharged he came to Evansville and was for a short time interested in a sawmill in Spencer county, but not yet having fully recovered from the effects of his wounds he gave it up and re-entered the service in the employ of Philip Decker, the sutler of the Tenth Tennessee infantry, at Nash- ville. On his way to Nashville to accept this position he was arrested three times, but was soon released each time. Soon after joining the regiment it moved to Knoxville and then to Greenville, where Captain Myerhoff slept for several months upon the tailor's table formerly used by Andrew Johnson. When the war closed he again returned to Evansville, took a course in bookkeeping in Behm's Commercial college, and entered the employ of Keller & White as bookkeeper. About a year later he went to the well known hardware firm of Boetticher, Kellogg & Co., in the same capacity, and remained with this house for nearly twenty-one years. While with them he was secretary of the Evansville Union Stock Yards. In 1888 he became interested in the Evansville Stove Works as secretary and treasurer, and has been treasurer of the associated charities of the city since organization. As a drill master Captain Myerhoff has few equals, and it was in this connection that his name became widely known. For three successive terms he was captain of the Evansville Light Guards.
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During the same period he was also Sir Knight commander of the Orion drill corps, Knights of Pythias, and so thorough was his work with this organization that it won three prizes in competitive drill, and he was awarded a gold medal as the best commander at St. Louis in August, 1880. In political campaigns his companies, such as the "Red Shirts" and "Zouaves," always attracted favorable notice. He has frequently been called upon to act as grand marshal in political and Memorial Day processions, also on Dewey Day and the return of the volunteers from the Spanish-American war. He was on the staff of National Commanders Kountz, Fairchild, Walker and Blackmar, of the Grand Army of the Republic; and also on the staff of several of the commanders of the department of Indiana. Besides being a staff officer he was also a member of the national council of adminis- tration, and has frequently been district delegate to national encamp- ments. He was the second commander of Farragut Post, in which he holds his Grand Army membership. Captain Myerhoff was mar- ried in 1867 to Miss Jennie, daughter of Alexander Sharra, of Evans- ville.
CHARLES H. DAVIES, senior mem- ber of the firm of Davies & Scarborough, contractors and builders, Evansville, Ind., was born in the city of Chester, England, in 1861. He is a son of Thomas and Sarah (Fellows) Davies, both natives of England, where the Davies family has been for gen- erations one of the highly respected fam- ilies of Great Britain. Charles H. Davies was reared and educated in his native land. In 1883 he came to the United States, and two years later located in Ev- ansville, where he found ready employment at his trade of bricklayer. After two or three years he formed a partnership with James Scarborough, a fellow-countryman, for the purpose of carrying on a general contracting business. The firm of Davies & Scarborough soon began to make itself felt in the building trades of Evansville, and today no concern of its kind has a higher standing in the city. This is due to the square dealing that has always characterized the individual members of it, and to the prompt manner and skillful workmanship displayed in executing their contracts. Some of the most pretentious buildings in the city have been erected
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by them and each time a contract is finished the owner of the build- ing becomes an advertisement for the firm. On Dec. 21, 1887, Mr. Davies was united in marriage to Miss Ada, daughter of George Wolf, a native of Germany, but for a number of years a resident of Evansville.
JAMES SCARBOROUGH, of the firm of Davies & Scarborough, contractors and builders, Evansville, Ind., is a native of Huntingdonshire, England. When he was about eleven years of age he came with his parents to America, and after two months in the city of Cleveland, O., the family located in Evansville, where Mr. Scarborough has ever since continued to reside. He received his education in the public schools and for several years after leaving school followed the business of teaming. In 1875 he went into the Evans- ville fire department as driver of the No. 6 hose wagon, and was after- ward captain of the company. In the meantime he learned the trade of bricklayer, and upon leaving the fire department went to work at this occupation. He was elected president of the bricklayers' union, and represented the Evansville union in the national conventions of Washington and Boston. About 1889 he formed a partnership with C. H. Davies and J. Oakley for the purpose of carrying on a general contracting business, and during the last fifteen years a number of the substantial edifices of Evansville have been erected by this firm, which has won a well deserved reputation for honest work and promptness in executing contracts. Mr. Scarborough has been honored with the presidency of the Evansville Builders' and Traders' Exchange, and was for six years a member of the board of public works of the city of Evansville. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and is a deacon in the Calvary Baptist church. He was married in 1877 to Miss Anna R., daughter of Alexander Tiepman, a veteran of the Civil war and an old resident of Evansville. Mrs. Scarborough died in March, 1904, leaving four children : Ella, wife of J. T. Cadick, of Evansville; Charles Silas, associated with his father in business, and a member of the bricklayers' union ; May Viola, and Artie James.
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WILLIAM G. RALSTON, M.D., of Evansville, Ind., is one of the oldest phy- sicians in that section of the state. His grandfather, William Ralston, was a sol- dier under Washington in the Revolution, and was present at the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown. He afterward served with distinction in the war of 1812. His son, Andrew R., father of Dr. Ralston, also served in the American army during that war, enlisting when he was but eight- een years of age. In 1818 Andrew R. Ralston was married to Miss Patsy, daugh- ter of Maj. Joseph Neely, of Kentucky. Her father was a major in one of the Continental regiments during the Revolutionary war, and was also present at the siege and surrender of Yorktown. Soon after their marriage Andrew and Patsy Ralston settled at Prince- ton, Gibson county, Ind., and there Dr. Ralston was born in February, 1819. His early life was spent upon his father's farm, assisting in the farm work in the summer time and attending the imperfect dis- trict schools in the old log school house during the winter months. In this way he received his elementary education, and in 1840 taught school for one term. In 184I he went to Posey county and took up the study of medicine under the instruction of Dr. Joseph Neely, one of the popular physicians of that period. Here he studied for four years, at the end of which time he located at Boonville, Warrick county, and there practiced his profession until 1863. He then at- tended a course of lectures in the Ohio Medical college at Cincin- nati, and subsequently graduated from the medical college of Evans- ville. At the beginning of the Civil war Dr. Ralston was appointed surgeon of the Eighty-first Indiana infantry by Governor Morton, and served about a year with his regiment in the army of the Cum- berland. He was then appointed by the secretary of war to the posi- tion of surgeon to the board of enrollment of the First congressional district of Indiana, and in that capacity examined something like ten thousand volunteers, conscripts and substitutes. He remained in this. position until April 14, 1865, when he located at Evansville and re- sumed private practice. For four years he was surgeon of the United States Marine hospital at Evansville, and he has been for a num- ber of years one of the board of pension examiners. Dr. Ralston, al- though more than fourscore years of age, is a man of remarkable
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energy. While engaged in the active practice of medicine he has found time to devote to scientific research, and is the inventor of the Ralston bed-warmer, a device for producing the comforts of a warm bed at nominal cost. As a sick room appliance and sanitary help it is one of the most important of the simple inventions of recent years. For more than sixty years Dr. Ralston has been an active and helpful member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, and he is one of the veteran members of Crescent Lodge, No. 22, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In 1850 he was united in marriage to Miss Isabelle, daughter of R. C. Matthewson, and after thirty-two years of happy wedded life she joined the silent majority in 1882.
SAMUEL G. RICKWOOD, of the firm of Lannert & Rickwood, general con- tractors in stone work, Evansville, Ind., also president of the Evansville Builders' Exchange and secretary of the Manufac- turers' Association, is a native of England. When he was about nine months old his - parents came to America and settled in Evansville, where both died when he was about two years old. Samuel grew to manhood and received his education in the public schools. Upon leaving school in the fifteenth year of his age he went into the monumental works of Stahlhefer & Nightingale, and there served an apprenticeship, continuing with this firm five years. He was then for three years with H. H. Uhlhorn in the same line of work. In 1882 he formed a partnership with Adam Lannert for the manufacture of all kinds of building stone work, plain and ornamental. That part- nership has continued ever since, and the firm is one of the best known in the entire Lower Ohio Valley, as their business extends into several states. Their success is due to their fair dealing and skilful workmanship, and their best advertisement is the recom- mendation of those for whom they have done work. Mr. Rickwood is a member of the Court of Honor, and the Tribe of Ben Hur, also a member of the Park Memorial Presbyterian church, of which he is treasurer and one of the board of elders. He is also superintendent of the Sunday school; is a director in the Young Men's Christian Association, and one of the trustees of the Deaconess' hospital. Mr. Rickwood was married in 1880 to Miss Louise Alt, daughter of John
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Alt, an old resident of Evansville, and they have four children living, as follows: Mabel, wife of W. E. Miller, of Pike county; Ruth, wife of C. H. Hitch, secretary of the Builders' Exchange; Roland, and Lela. Four children died in early childhood.
ANDREW KOCH, a retired citizen of Evansville, Ind., was born in Albig, Ger- many, in 1841. Two years later his par- ents, Philip and Margaret Koch, came to America, locating first in Evansville, but removing to Posey county in a short time, where the father followed farming for about four years, returning to Evansville in 1847. There he opened a cooper shop and did a good business for about three years, when his buildings were destroyed by fire. He then turned his attention to the brewing business, established the old Eagle brewery and conducted it until 1858, when he sold out and started a brewery on the West Side, which he ran for several years. Philip Koch died in 1889, leaving five sons: Philip is the trustee of Perry township, Vanderburg county, Ind .; Henry is a successful tin- ner in Evansville; Andrew is the subject of this sketch; George and William have both died; one daughter, Elizabeth, is now the wife of John Ingle, manager of Rosenberger Park. Andrew Koch acquired a meager education in the common schools, but the greater part of his information has been obtained by self-study, so that it may be said he is a self-educated man. As a boy he worked in the cooper shops and brewery of his father until 1862, when he enlisted in Com- pany D, Ninety-first Indiana infantry, and served until June, 1865, when he was discharged a short time before the expiration of his term of enlistment, because of a wound received in the leg in front of Atlanta. During his term of service he was in the battles of the Atlanta campaign, marching from Chattanooga to Atlanta; was at Franklin, Nashville and Murfreesboro; and in numerous skirmishes in which his regiment took part. He was wounded on June 6. 1865; was mustered out on the 26th of the same month; and received his discharge on July 8. After the war he engaged in the grocery and saloon business at what became known as "Koch's Stand," West Heights, and continued in that occupation until 1881. He then became interested in the sand business and followed that until 1899,
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